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Title: 1st power up with Variac Post by: GuitarHack on May 15, 2011, 06:36:26 PM Can anyone supply or point me to some info on how to use a variac for 1st power up?
Thanks Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: T Wilcox on May 18, 2011, 12:58:44 PM It seems that most people that do the safe power up, do the light bulb method.
I took the cross your fingers and hope it works approach! It worked! Hopefully someone that has used the variac method will chime in. Todd Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: cmoore on May 18, 2011, 07:59:14 PM I would not use a Variac to power up your build.
If you are worried/cautious, use a light bulb limiter. Best Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: MrGoldTop on May 18, 2011, 08:24:29 PM +1 On the lamp method. Positive results (On or Off). No gray areas. Really inexpensive too.
Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: GuitarHack on May 19, 2011, 06:30:09 AM Thanks for responding.
I thought I read the Variac method was best, and I happen to have one. I figured you would set it at a low voltage and measure at certain points to see if there was juice where its supposed to be and no juice where there's not supposed to be. As I understand, the light bulb method just tells you whether or not you have a major short. Is there a diagram or explicit instructions on how to do the bulb thing? Do you do it with tubes in or out? Speaker connected or not? I'm ready and anxious to power up! I have a gig this Saturday. Cheers Jon Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: grod915 on May 19, 2011, 11:00:19 AM Paul Ruby amps has a great start up article here: http://paulrubyamps.com/info.html
Title: Re: 1st power up with Variac Post by: cmoore on May 19, 2011, 03:38:29 PM You are too worried about power up. Unless you have done something REAL STUPID, the worst that will happen is you will blow a fuse. I seriously doubt this applies to you.
Enter the bulb limiter. It keeps your fuse from blowing so you can look for problems without repeatedly replacing a 2 dollar fuse. They are easy to build, as in the link below. Best http://tubenewbie.com/light_bulb_current_limiter.html |